Homemade Chocolate Made Easy

The gift of chocolate
Rich, sweet and meltingly moreish, chocolates are an always-well-received present, whether gifted for Christmas, birthdays, Mother’s Day or just because. And while it’s easy enough to go out and buy a box, there’s something extra-special about homemade chocolates, crafted with care and prettily presented for that truly personal touch.

A helping handMaking your own chocolates isn’t as difficult as you might think, though it helps to have the right kit to set you up for success, and we’ve got everything you need to melt, mould, temper, pipe and present chocolate gifts they’ll love. To help you decide between gifting a classic selection box, a novelty gift, a lustre-dusted bar or a little bag of festively flavoured truffles, you’ll find plenty of deliciously different inspiration to follow. Choc on!

Every-one-a-favourite selection boxesNobody knows their favourite chocolates the way you do, so rather than gifting a ready-made box of hard, chewy and soft centres, some of which they won’t like and will loiter at the bottom of the box for weeks (you know the ones we’re thinking of!), why not curate a collection that only contains the ones you know they love? A whole box of salted caramel hearts for the soft-centred; pyramid pralines and fruit-filled fondants for fans of nuts and berries; ginger and cinnamon truffles for anyone who likes a little spice. Go for the classic selection box look with our easy-release silicone chocolate mould, or mix it up with ourchocolate mould multipack, which combines traditional squares and domes with a festive feast of snowflakes, candy canes, bows and baubles.

Lovely lookalikesNovelty chocs might not taste any better than ‘normal’ ones, but if you’re looking for a fun twist on the traditional, try one of these gorgeous giftables. Can’t choose between perfume and chocolate? Our perfume bottle chocolate mould offers a delicious compromise, turning out a beautifully detailed bottle complete with stopper, bow and embossed label. If their handbag collection’s getting out of hand, gift them an edible one instead – it’ll be gone in days, rather than cluttering up the closet for years. And foil-wrapped chocolate coins are a Christmas essential – who wouldn’t want to find a treasure chest of chunky chocolate change in their stocking?

Roll your ownMinty, moreish Peppermint Creams. Chocolate-covered Ginger Creams, topped with a zing and a jingle. Cinnamon Chocolate Truffles, sure to spice up their stocking. If you’re happy to get really hands-on, this trio of Christmassy recipes is a great way to get started on your chocolate-making adventures. You need no specialist chocolate-making equipment for these – just a rolling pin, cutter, saucepan, bowl and baking parchment, plus a few tasty ingredients – and they’re sure to be a hit with anyone who’s a fan of festive flavours. Chocs away!

To find out more about chocolate making and get a little extra expert help, browse Master Chocolatier Paul A. Young’s guide on how to temper chocolate. Alternatively, if you’d like to have a go at making a ganache view his easy ganache recipe.